According to a top secret memo obtained by the publication, the NSA was collecting email metadata since 2001, although it was reportedly discontinued in 2011, the Obama administration said. The top secret program went by the name Stellar Wind, and it started one month after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

But, according to the documents, the NSA's eavedropping frenzy did not end there. A new program code named "EvilOlive" was reportedly launched in December last year to broaden the coverage of Stellar Wind.

Acting under the authority given by the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, EvilOlive reportedly aims to capture metadata, email logs, IP addresses, and web browsing activities. The documents also revealed another program called ShellTrumpet that collected trillions of data last year.

Two upcoming programs, dubbed "MoonLightPath" and "Spinneret" were also discovered and found to be scheduled for launch this coming September 2013. Could there be more?

The Author

Gene Ryan BrionesGene Ryan Briones (Google+) is a technology journalist with a wide experience in writing about the latest trends in the technology industry, ranging from mobile technology, gadgets and robots, as well as computer hardware and software.